Storm continue wild 14-year madness, cost Broncos dearly

The Broncos are no longer masters of their own minor premiership fate after Melbourne proved they’re at home at Suncorp Stadium.

Grant Anderson also scored a double. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The Melbourne Storm have proven to be the Brisbane Broncos’ bogey team once again, even without their biggest stars, after pulling off a 32-22 win at Suncorp Stadium.

With most of the big names on the sidelines for both teams, it was a chance for young and fringe first-graders to have their time in the sun.

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But with 13 players rested for the Storm, the side was still able to continue its Suncorp Stadium dominance.

The last time the Storm lost to the Broncos in Brisbane was 2009 with the Storm now having won the last 13 matches at the stadium.

The Storm have also continued a 14-game winning streak against the Broncos at all stadiums which started back in 2017.

While the result appears to have left the door wide open for the Panthers to snatch the minor premiership and the $200,000 prize that comes with it, the Broncos may be hoping the Panthers and Warriors both win so they can avoid the Storm in the first week of the playoffs.

If the Panthers beat the Cowboys on Saturday, they will win the minor premiership with the Broncos second — if not Penrith will finish second and Brisbane will claim their first minor premiership since 2000.

The Broncos can still finish with the minor premiership. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

If the Warriors, who have also rested players, beat the Dolphins on Saturday, they will finish third, Storm fourth. If they lose, Storm third, Warriors fourth.

But while Thursday night’s match had plenty of starpower getting the week off with 22 players rested between them, it was a brilliant game as some future stars got the limelight.

None shone brighter than Melbourne’s Suavauli Fa’alogo however as he scored a double, including a sensational try with his first use of the ball.

Welcome to the NRL, Sua Faalogo!

That’s what we needed to see to kickoff Resting Round. pic.twitter.com/fLOw9UU882

— Jason Oliver (@JasonNRL) August 31, 2023

“His name is up in lights here at Suncorp Stadium … This is very, very special,” Warren Smith said of the try.

“That is perhaps the moment of 2023 and that’s saying something.”

Storm rookie Sualauvi Fa'alogo is something special. Picture: NRL Imagery

For the Broncos, a rare start for fullback Tristan Sailor was outstanding as he ran 184m in 14 runs as well as making a line break, laying on three line break assists and two try assists.

“Gordie and I were chatting back stage, he’s only played half-a-dozen games, but he’s got a touch of class about him,” Fletcher said on The Late Show with Matty Johns.

“He’s a bit like Connor Tracey who plays for the Sharks, he’s too good to be playing reserve grade. Too good to be playing Queensland Cup.”

While the result leaves the Broncos’ minor premiership fate in the hands of the Panthers, Gorden Tallis said it was clear the side had its eyes on another prize.

“It showed, resting the players, that minor premiership means less than the other prize they were going for,” Tallis said.

“But I thought it was a really entertaining game. I just thought both organisations have a lot of depth. They said it’s a reserve grade game, if that’s a reserve grade game, it was really high quality.”

43,271. Not bad for a “reserve grade game.” #NRLBroncosStorm

— Lachlan Jeffery (@LachlanJeffery) August 31, 2023

This is probs one of the better games of the year in terms of excitement & there’s not even 10 actual NRL players 😅 #NRLBroncosStorm

— THE JUICEEE 💉💉 (@Kylewok_) August 31, 2023

On Nine, fill-in captain Thomas Flegler said the Broncos didn’t put in the effort required to win.

“We started well but as we know the Storm are an 80-minute team and tonight we didn’t put up an 80-minute effort,” Flegler said post-match.

“We got what we deserved in the end, we’ve just gotta go back to the drawing board now and recover well for next week.”

Originally published as Storm continue wild 14-year madness, cost Broncos dearly